Page 17 of Crowned In Blood
The room fell silent, the men looking at me like I'd grown a second head. If this wasn't such a serious meeting, I would have laughed.
"You… killed Fernando?" Luis asked.
"I did. I also killed his guards, Alfonso and Benito. You see, I don't takekindlyto men who believe women are beneath them or men who don't understand the definition of the word, 'no.' I'm certain I don't need to explain it to you, correct?"
Slowly, they all nodded, some unable to meet my eyes.
"Good. Now let me explain how things are going to go. As Fernando's widow, I now own everything he had. Every asset, every responsibility. The entire Salazar Familia. Effective immediately, I will be taking over all operations here and rebuilding the connections needed to keep this family,myfamily, safe."
Eduardo opened his mouth, but I narrowed my eyes at him, and he promptly shut it. He was one of the few men I hoped to eventually win over. He was loyal, fiercely protective of this familia, and to him, Fernando had been a mentor and friend. I was certain that he saw me as the enemy, and he wasn't the only one.
"I understand that I have a lot to learn here, and that you all have concerns. There has never been a woman leading the mafia on her own nor someone not explicitly trained in your day-to-day functions." I looked around the room. "Let me assure you, I will do what needs to be done. As you can see"—I waved a hand at Juan's body—"I have no issue with violence and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty."
Lifting my head, I sat up straighter in my chair. "I would like to offer each of you two options. First, stay here, cooperate with me when necessary, do the job you've been doing and do it well, and continue to reap the rewards you have been. Or leave."
Several of the men drew back while some leaned forward, interest written all over their faces.
"Should this be too much for you, I'm offering you a chance out. Leave this room now, and you leave the familia, with one small caveat. You will never share what you've learned about the Salazar Familia with anyone. Break that rule, and I willbreakyou. Threaten my family, and I will destroy yours," I hissed. "Make your choices, men."
I leaned back into my chair, silently watching them. From what I'd been able to find, I doubted most of the men would leave.
The mafia lifestyle was similar to that of a celebrity. It was grand. The thrill of power was infectious. Working up the ranks created a sense of pride for many, and the money and perks were just as addicting.
But it all came down to whether or not they could listen and learn to take instruction from me.
After a few minutes, I was pleased that not a single man had gotten up to leave. They may, later. They might be difficult with me, disrespectful, or even try to kill me one day. I was aware of all of that. I didn't trust a single person here, and I doubted I ever would. But, for the moment, they at least had the decency to hear me out, and that was enough.
6
Catalina
Six months later
Iflipped through the financial reports my assistant, Olivia, had prepared. Our numbers were impressive.
"The profits from the shipping company exceeded projections again," Olivia said with a smile. "At this rate, we'll triple our revenue from last year."
I hummed in satisfaction. "Good. What about the casino and nightclubs?"
"Also exceeding expectations. The new security measures seem to be working, and there haven't been any issues."
I leaned back in my chair, interlacing my fingers. "Excellent. Schedule a meeting with our capos to discuss expanding into new territory. I think it's time we looked into opportunities on the West Coast."
Olivia made a note on her tablet.
"What about the clinic?" I asked.
"Construction is complete. The interior designer has a meeting with Naya at the Center of Gentle Love and Hope today to go over color schemes and furniture."
I suppressed a small smile. I didn't have any friends, but I spoke with Naya often. Building the clinic for her foundation was a huge step forward in helping the women who had nowhere else to go. But she worried that I was doing far too much for the organization and could be stubborn. I was sure I'd have a voicemail about the meeting later.
Olivia's brown eyes hardened for a moment, her demeanor shifting. "Your father called again. I've taken care of it."
I clenched my fist underneath my desk. I meant it when I'd told my father the next time I saw him would be at his funeral, but he'd started calling me frequently after the news of Fernando's death. I didn't have the energy or time, and refused to spare any to deal with him.
Luckily, my efficient and take-no-bullshit assistant handled the issue for me. "Thank you."
Olivia nodded. "I've also scheduled your meeting with Ruth Aguilar today at three. Do you want me to add anything to the agenda?"
